Business View Magazine - October 2016 91
alcohol-related. For STEP participants looking to take
their programs to the next level, ABC offers STEP Plus,
which is a three-year transformative journey from best-
in class safety to world-class safety.
STEP participants also can apply to become an Accred-
ited Quality Contractor (AQC), a program that repre-
sents members that display outstanding commitment
to community responsibility, best-in-class safety, best-
in-class training, valuing employees and high quality.
Becoming a voice in the process
One reason members join ABC is so ABC can be their
voice in shaping key regulations and legislation. As a
member-run association, ABC listens carefully to the
feedback of its committees and board of directors
about which rules and regulations they are concerned
about and then communicates those concerns and
solutions to the correct officials. Regardless of the out-
come, ABC makes sure its members are kept up to
date on the progress of these regulations and changes
that could impact their businesses.
Increasing profitability with
productivity, diversity and value
ABC saved members $26 million through its Member
Discount Program in 2014, but that is only one way
ABC positively impacted their bottom lines. A profitable
company also must increase the productivity of their
workforce, make sure their customers understand the
value they provide and ensure a diverse workforce.
In 2014, ABC launched Project Virtual that offers con-
tractor-specific BIM training, in addition to providing
discounts and guides for members to gauge where
they rank. But that is only one component in the stra-
tegic approach to improving productivity. Focused on
the key areas of project origination and planning, co-
ordination and workflow, and construction crew pro-
duction, ABC also is working toward support for col-
laborative delivery methods, safety management,
specialized training, modular construction, prefabrica-
tion, 3D printing, production training, research, craft
professional training and health and wellness.
ABC also hosts an Industrial Users Summit that brings
together construction users and contractors to dis-
cuss industry safety, quality and workforce issues that
affect the way projects are planned and delivered.
ABC members demonstrate how merit shop contrac-
tors deliver value to customers and get an opportunity
to understand what owners need during the planning
and delivery phase. During the Inter-Industry Alliance
dinner, ABC members and industry stakeholders dis-
cuss where the industry is headed and develop action
items around the key areas of safety, workforce devel-
opment, industry productivity and innovation.
ABC began work on its Diversity Resource Groups in
2014 that will help recruit members, build partner-
ships with communities, enhance workplace produc-
tivity and innovation and increase diversity and inclu-
sion awareness through the industry.
Building up a community
ABC is proud to claim members that truly build their
communities. From schools, hospitals, churches, gro-
cery stores and malls to factories, bridges, and roads,
ABC members build the structures where their fami-
lies, neighbors and employees live, play and work. In
addition, they take pride in creating jobs for members
of their communities. In 2014, ABC members built
more than $7.3 billion in award-winning construction
projects while providing great careers for hundreds of
thousands of workers.
As ABC celebrates its 65th year in 2015, the associ-
ation looks forward to another 65 of supporting the
merit shop philosophy, supporting its members and
supporting the industry.
